Mercury can be found in various consumer and commercial products. When a mercury-containing product breaks and the mercury is spilled, the exposed mercury can evaporate and become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. Some of these products such as mercury-containing thermometers can break easily and spill mercury. To prevent mercury releases, these products should be used and stored safely, and managed properly at the end of their useful lives. Many other products, however, such as mercury switches in appliances, are unlikely to break until the products are disposed of, and therefore present little spillage hazard in people's homes. The lists below--

information on older products, such as certain latex interior and exterior paints, which used to contain mercury, but now do not.

Please note:

The product list is not complete and not all brands of the listed items contain mercury. Please check with individual manufacturers or view the resources listed in the Related Information box on the right for additional information about mercury-containing products and products that are alternatives to mercury-containing products.

Labeling laws in some states may aid you in identifying which products contain mercury. Some states, such as Connecticut and Maryland, have passed laws requiring manufacturers selling products in those states to label those products containing mercury. In addition, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has required that starting in 2012, all light bulbs must have new "lighting facts" labels, and all light bulbs that contain mercury must be labeled as such. Learn more about the new labels for light bulbs.

*Mercury-containing thermostat probes may be found in several types of older gas-fired appliances that have pilot lights, such as ovens, water heaters, and furnaces.

(This also applies to pool heaters and appliances in some recreational vehicles.)

If there is a question about the mercury content of a metal probe, obtain this information from the manufacturer. See also Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association's (NEWMOA) Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse's Mercury-Added Products Database.

Source: Pilot light sensors:

Mercury-containing thermostat probes may be present as part of the safety valves that prevent gas flow if the pilot lights are not lit. The metal probe consists of a metal bulb and thin tube attached to a gas-control valve. The bulb of the probe projects into or near the pilot light.

Purpose: The mercury inside the tube expands or contracts to open and shut the valve.

Spill Risk: Yes, when appliances are shredded by scrap metal recyclers or crushed in landfills.

Source: Mercury tilt switches, small tubes with electrical contacts at one end of the tubes were used inside the irons.

Purpose: When the tube is tilted, the mercury flows to either end cutting off the circuit on one end, while opening it on the other side. They often function as on/off switches.

Spill Risk: None, if units are intact.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed at household hazardous waste collection centers. Consult your local or state collection program regarding items taken.

Electronics:

Desktop liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors

Laptop LCD monitors

Laptop screen shutoffs

Backlight display screens

Purpose:Mercury in screens and monitors: Visible light is produced when the mercury is electrically energized.

Mercury tilt switches in laptop screen shutoffs: When the laptop monitors are tilted, the mercury flows to either end cutting off the circuit on one end, while opening it on the other side. They often function as on/off switches.

Spill Risk: None, if units are intact.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed at household hazardous waste collection centers. Consult your local or state collection program regarding items taken.

Source: Some homes that were built prior to 1961 contain mercury regulators attached to the gas meters. These devices do not create spill risks while in service, but some mercury spills have occurred during removal.

Recommended Management: These devices should be removed only by qualified gas company personnel or trained plumbers. Contact your local gas company to ensure proper removal of these devices in homes that are to be demolished. In other homes, contact the gas company so that the devices will be removed properly when the meters need to be replaced.

Purpose: These devices were invented in 1904 to improve home hot-water heating systems.

Spill Risk: Mercury spills can occur as a result of improper removal of these devices. A spill can require a significant cleanup effort.

Recommended Management: Prior to demolition, these units should be removed in a manner that ensures no mercury is released. Remove the unit intact, then place the entire unit into a large plastic bag, always keeping the unit in a vertical position. Take the unit to a local household hazardous waste facility or hire a professional environmental consulting company, both of which have trained personnel who can handle and dispose of mercury appropriately.

These devices look like typical wall switches, but they do not make the audible "click" sound when activated.

Source: Liquid mercury is in a metal encased glass button.

Purpose: The mercury completes the electrical circuit when the switch is lifted up, submerging an electrical contact point and closing the circuit.

Spill Risk: Yes, exists during removal.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed at household hazardous waste collection centers. Consult your local or state collection program regarding items taken.

Mercury: Liquid elemental mercury*:

*Some states restrict the sale of elemental mercury. For example, NH law requires that providers of elemental mercury send completed certification forms, signed by the receiving organizations, to the state. Receiving organizations must use the mercury for medical, dental, research or manufacturing uses only.

Source: Usually in jars or vials.

Many people may also have containers of elemental mercury in their homes left over from science projects or from historic uses, such as gold panning.

Source: Mercury may be present in sewer pipes, sumps and sink traps from the past use of mercury, for example, in a chemistry set or used in a science project. The mercury may also have entered the pipes when items were broken, discarded or spilled in sinks. Mercury in plumbing can settle at a low point such as a sump or sink trap and remain in the plumbing for many years.

Purpose : No purpose. Deposited over time.

Spill Risk: Yes, exists during removal.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed by professionals. Contact your local or state health or environmental agency for information on qualified professionals.

Security systems:

Building

Fire alarm boxes

Source: Mercury tilt switches are in the systems. The switches are small tubes with electrical contacts at one end of the tubes.

Purpose: When the tube is tilted, the mercury flows to either end cutting off the circuit on one end, while opening it on the other side. They often function as on/off switches.

Spill Risk: None, if units are intact.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed at household hazardous waste collection centers. Consult your local or state collection program regarding items taken.

Shoes*:

Children's light-up shoes

* No longer sold.

Purpose: The liquid mercury triggers an electrical connection that activates a light.

Spill Risk: None, if items are intact.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed at household hazardous waste collection centers. Consult your local or state collection program regarding items taken.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed or exchanged for mercury-free thermometers at a household hazardous waste collection center. Consult your local or state collection program regarding items taken.

*Dental amalgam ("silver fillings") is used to fill cavities in teeth. Dentists currently use prepared capsules that are mixed prior to application, and do not use elemental mercury. Clinical labs at some dental schools may have used elemental mercury in the past to prepare dental amalgam. Elemental mercury may also be present in some dental offices from previous use.

Source: Dental amalgam consists of approximately 50% mercury. The remaining 50% is comprised of silver, copper and tin. Dental amalgam waste consists of excess amalgam from the preparation of fillings and from filling and tooth removals.

Purpose: The mercury in amalgam binds with the other metals to produce a material that can be shaped to fill dental cavities, and is resistant to temperature changes and the effects of chewing.

Spill Risk: No, except if elemental mercury is in dental offices or dental school clinics from previous amalgam preparations.

Recommended Management: Used dental amalgam should be sent to a waste handler who will ensure that the mercury is properly recycled.

Recommended Management: These products need to be properly disposed or exchanged for mercury-free thermometers at a household hazardous waste collection center. Consult your local or state collection program regarding items taken.

Commercial Products

Mercury can be an active ingredient, a preservative or a chemical introduced in the manufacture of one of the ingredients in a chemical formulation. The difficulty of identifying which chemicals and reagents contain mercury is compounded by the fact that Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are not required to list the hazardous components of a product unless that component is present at a level of >1% (0.1% for carcinogens).